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Fear of Daddy Long Legs

20083

Right, OK, this is getting beyond a joke. Although some of you may find it amusing my fear of Daddy long legs (Crane flies) is really starting to interfere with my life. I have had to shut my bedroom window as they are everywhere so I know that I will get no sleep tonight because of the heat. I have in the past seen myself up into the early hours of the morning because I knew that one was in the room somewhere and I knew I could not sleep without killing it.

I hate the way they dive down at you, the noises they make against the walls and stuff. Seriously sends a shiver down my back.

Don't know why I am posting this as there is not much I can do about my fear, is there? Please, no one suggest facing my fear or anything like that because there is absolutely no way I could. Any advice appreciated.

Buy a fan.

OP

Fleece

Buy a fan.

A fan? Why would that help?

Reply 3

generalebriety

16

Err.

Buy a fan? Sleep under a light sheet? Open a window at the other end of the house?

Really this isn't a question about insects, because you don't seem to want to combat your fear... you want to know how to sleep in the heat, right?

Reply 4

Fleece

15

Means you can sleep with your window shut without getting hot...

Reply 5

generalebriety

16

Nessyfencer

A fan? Why would that help?

You wouldn't be sleeping in the heat. Although then the problem of dehydration arises...

Reply 6

ExitMusic

9

Get a fly killer - I suggest Raid (quite potent). Now spray this everywhere in the room until it absolutely stinks (well I don't think it smells that bad). Now close all the doors and windows and sleep (if the heat is too much, get a portable fan!). The next morning you'll wake up and you might find some dead flies on your floor.

Or you might wake up dead. Either way the flies will be killed.

Reply 7

generalebriety

16

Optimistic

Now spray this everywhere in the room until it absolutely stinks (well I don't think it smells that bad). Now close all the doors and windows and sleep (if the heat is too much, get a portable fan!). The next morning you'll wake up

Lies.

Reply 8

20083

OP

2

Aha, just got the fan thing. First read it as "get a fan, will keep the vile, evil beasts out." Or something along those lines.

I have a can of raid here, use it often!

As for combating my fear I honestly do not believe that I can.

Reply 9

Né Stig

15

Daddy long legs are almost harmonious. They are like fish in a tank; therapeutic. An elegant spider which is in no way a danger. I just hate the way you try and catch one to remove it from the house only to accidentally tear off a couple of legs. It breaks my heart *sob*

Reply 10

20083

OP

2

generalebriety

Lies.

lol.

Reply 11

KayBee

1

I'm the same. I'd rather be in a hot, insect-free room then have to face them and be cool!
It's raining at the mo so I don't have to worry about boiling tonight

Reply 12

elliotmcv

Well I'm afraid I can't offer you any real advice but I can tell you I'm in a similar boat. It's pretty sweltering in this room at the moment but I'm not going to open the windows until the lights are out. I've always been afraid of spiders and many-legged things but the way I react to flying daddy-longlegs (just the name makes me shiver a little :redface:

) is very irrational. I tend to jump out of my seat and rush out of the room, usually making some pathetic noise. Usually if they disappear I can forget about them but if there's one in sight I can't keep my eyes off it. I don't like killing any insects but I usually lose my patience with these and smash them with a yardstick or something. They don't live very long anyway...
As for combatting (sp?) the fear, well, I haven't had much success. My Dad constantly informs that they can't hurt me, but that doesn't bother me at all (much like the way dogs jump on me), it's mainly the erratic way they fly - often right into my face. I've tried staying calm when they're near me but it's proved almost impossible.
Anyway, that probably didn't help in the slightest, but good luck!

Reply 13

Sithius

16

I used to get daddy long legs when I was young with my friends at school then we locked them in our locker to die!

Reply 14

generalebriety

16

Nessyfencer

As for combating my fear I honestly do not believe that I can.

Course you don't. It's a phobia. Phobias are irrational, so applying rational logic to them doesn't work. :p:

But you can combat it - of course, if you don't want to, don't, but when you haven't slept for 72 hours if we get another heatwave, and you're hungry, sick, tired and scared stiff, you might have to reconsider.

I was once scared of spiders... grew out of it though. Maybe you will with this too. :confused:

Just a thought.

KayBee

I'm the same. I'd rather be in a hot, insect-free room then have to face them and be cool!
It's raining at the mo so I don't have to worry about boiling tonight

For some reason our whole house is double glazed and insulated. (Bastards.) And because the computer's in here, my room is often the hottest room in the house. And no amount of ventilation changes that. :eek2:

Reply 15

Fleece

15

If you concentrate on the fact that daddy long legs have the most powerful venom but have no teeth with which to administer it, rendering it pointless, and a leetle bit funny, it should take away some of the fear, if not all. Learn to laugh at the things.

Reply 16

20083

OP

2

elliotmcv

Well I'm afraid I can't offer you any real advice but I can tell you I'm in a similar boat. It's pretty sweltering in this room at the moment but I'm not going to open the windows until the lights are out. I've always been afraid of spiders and many-legged things but the way I react to flying daddy-longlegs (just the name makes me shiver a little :redface:

) is very irrational. I tend to jump out of my seat and rush out of the room, usually making some pathetic noise. Usually if they disappear I can forget about them but if there's one in sight I can't keep my eyes off it. I don't like killing any insects but I usually lose my patience with these and smash them with a yardstick or something. They don't live very long anyway...
As for combatting (sp?) the fear, well, I haven't had much success. My Dad constantly informs that they can't hurt me, but that doesn't bother me at all (much like the way dogs jump on me), it's mainly the erratic way they fly - often right into my face. I've tried staying calm when they're near me but it's proved almost impossible.
Anyway, that probably didn't help in the slightest, but good luck!

OMG, that is soooo like what I am talking about. I have often seen myself standing in the middle of the room, in my boxers, pillow or book in one hand, can of raid in the other hand searching for it then running away as soon as I find it. lol

Reply 17

Sithius

16

Fleece

If you concentrate on the fact that daddy long legs have the most powerful venom but have no teeth with which to administer it, rendering it pointless, and a leetle bit funny, it should take away some of the fear, if not all. Learn to laugh at the things.

It isn't that easy to just drop a fear.

Reply 18

Fleece

15

Sithius

It isn't that easy to just drop a fear.

Because I was being completely serious.

Reply 19

generalebriety

16

elliotmcv

daddy-longlegs (just the name makes me shiver a little :redface:

)

How? It sounds like the sort of thing I'd have called my dad if he wore shorts when I was 4. :confused:

New idea. Spray deodorant or water at it. I sprayed water at one once (because it and many other insects were attacking my lightbulb all at once and playing hell with the lighting). It flew over to the wall. I sprayed it again ten times or so and it slid down the wall, fell, and died.

:biggrin:

Fear of Daddy Long Legs

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